Smart and Lynk Expand Satellite Connectivity Tests to Batangas to Strengthen Disaster Resilience

PLDT Inc’s (PLDT) wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in collaboration with Lynk Global, has expanded its Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite service testing to Batangas, further advancing efforts to strengthen communications resiliency and support national disaster response capabilities.

“Reliable communication is essential in times of crisis. As disasters continue to pose challenges to communities across the country, PLDT and Smart remain committed to investing in technologies that help ensure critical information reaches people when they need it most,” said Menardo G. Jimenez Jr., PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head, emphasizing the technology's potential to transform lives.

"For us, this goes beyond technology. Our mission at PLDT is to be there for all Filipinos, whether they are talking to family abroad or requesting assistance from a rooftop in the middle of a calamity," he added.

Building on the successful pilot activities conducted earlier this year in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte, the latest tests in Batangas focused on demonstrating how satellite-enabled connectivity solutions can help deliver critical communications when terrestrial networks are unavailable during emergencies.

Led by Smart’s Network Strategy and Architecture Team together with Lynk, the activities simulated disaster scenarios in areas where network infrastructure may be temporarily disrupted following a calamity. The tests showed the feasibility of using satellite-enabled cell broadcast capability to disseminate emergency alerts and public safety messages directly to customers in affected communities, supporting government and emergency responders during critical situations.

No more 'dead zones'

By exploring satellite-enabled capabilities such as Direct-to-Device connectivity, which is a technology that works with the standard, existing mobile phones that customers already have in their pockets, PLDT is strengthening its network's resilience and supporting the country’s disaster preparedness and response efforts, as aligned with the PLDT Group’s broader thrust to help create safer, more connected, and more resilient communities across the Philippines.

Beyond public safety alerts, the technology is also actively testing two-way communication capabilities like sending vital SMS messages when terrestrial cell towers are unavailable in the event of typhoons or power outages, as well as providing ubiquitous coverage to rural, underserved, and hard-to-reach areas, supporting remote workers, those traveling at sea, and fishermen working in maritime zones.

Latest in series of tests

The results of the Batangas tests further build on Smart and Lynk’s earlier D2D satellite service trials conducted in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte, which also explored how satellite technology can complement existing telco infrastructure, particularly in remote, underserved, and hard-to-reach areas.

The continued expansion of these trials reflects the PLDT Group’s commitment to explore next-generation technologies to help improve the delivery of public services and improve customer experience through reliable public safety communications as part of strengthened disaster response capabilities nationwide.

This also forms part of the Group’s overall thrust to leverage technology and innovation to support business continuity and national development, especially in a disaster-prone country like the Philippines.

Adaptability Is the New Leadership Imperative – PLDT

In a business environment marked by rapid technological advancement, evolving customer expectations, and heightened competitive pressures, adaptability has become a defining trait of effective leadership. This was among the key themes explored during the panel discussion, "Decisions Under Pressure: How Leaders are Navigating 2026," held at the ACC CXO Forum in Hong Kong.

The inaugural ACC CXO Forum brought together decision-makers from the global telecommunications, technology, digital infrastructure, finance, and enterprise sectors to exchange leadership insights and discuss the trends shaping the future of business.

PLDT Senior Vice President and Enterprise Business Group Head Blums S. Pineda joined fellow industry leaders in examining how organizations can remain resilient and competitive amid increasingly complex market conditions.

For Pineda, adaptability has become just as critical as scale or market leadership.

"It's not as simple anymore to rest on your laurels as a B2B or enterprise company and build up to a certain size because you're not sure that what got you there is going to keep you at the top. And that holds true for B2C companies as well."

The discussion also highlighted the growing challenge of strategic planning in an increasingly unpredictable environment. Pineda also noted that leaders today must be more adaptive as customer expectations, technology, and competitive conditions continue to evolve.

Drawing from his experience in global organizations, Pineda also highlighted the value of learning from diverse leadership styles and management approaches.

"I've always had the benefit of paying attention to my leaders above and trying to pick up little things. I think leadership is a story of evolving your craft and evolving yourself and really reflecting on what you can add and what you can steal with pride from others, because if it works in that situation, and if you have that in your toolkit, then you have a much more diverse way to begin to tackle problems that you will find."

As businesses navigate a rapidly changing operating environment, the discussions at the ACC CXO Forum reinforced a common view among today's leaders: success is no longer guaranteed by size, history, or market position alone. Organizations must continuously evolve, adapt, and create value in response to changing market realities.

As Pineda concluded, "It's a harder time to be in business. It's a harder time to be a leader. You can no longer think that you're entitled to something. You have to earn it every day, unfortunately, and I think that's a new normal."

Vivo Philippines Launches vivo Community for Users and Tech Enthusiasts

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Vivo Philippines has launched vivo Community, its online community platform designed to give users, prospective buyers, and technology enthusiasts a dedicated space to discover product information, exchange ideas, share content, and seek assistance.

Accessible through the Community tab in the vivo Store app or directly at bbs.vivo.com/ph, the platform expands the brand’s engagement beyond its social media channels. It brings together several sections covering different parts of the vivo experience, making it easier for members to find information and connect with other users.

The News & Events section will feature product announcements, promotions, and event updates, while Tech & Specs will provide product deep-dives, comparisons, and feature explainers. Photography enthusiasts can explore Shot on vivo, which will highlight user-generated content, photography challenges, and tips for capturing better images with vivo devices.

For community interaction, Connect & Discuss will offer discussion threads, polls, and Q&A sessions. Sports & Hoops will focus on vivo’s basketball activities and sponsorships, while Contest will feature giveaways and photography competitions.

The platform also includes a dedicated Support section for technical assistance, warranty concerns, and service center inquiries. These issues will be overseen by the vivo After Sales Team, while the community remains open to user participation and responses from the vivo team when needed.

To celebrate the launch, new members can receive a free shipping voucher with no minimum spend by signing up for the vivo Community and commenting on the official launch post. Ten lucky commenters will also have a chance to win an exclusive vivo tumbler with custom laser engraving. Eligible users can access the voucher through their vivo e-store coupon list.

“vivo Community gives our users a dedicated place to find useful information, ask questions, and share their experiences with other vivo users,” said vivo Philippines Brand Marketing Director Liu Lu. The platform is intended to serve existing device owners while also helping consumers researching vivo products and mobile photography enthusiasts.

A membership rewards system is in development, with further details expected to be announced soon. Users are encouraged to stay tuned for new activities, rewards, and member benefits.

With vivo Community, vivo Philippines is creating a centralized hub where technology, photography, support, and user interaction come together. The platform offers users another way to get more value from their devices while becoming part of a community.

Tax Reforms, POGO Bans Among Key Drivers in PH iGaming Surge as Digital Platforms Overtake Traditional Casinos

Manila, Philippines — Strategic tax adjustments, strict regulatory oversight, and a nationwide shift toward digital platforms have propelled the Philippine gaming industry to generate a record ₱396 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2025.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and industry benchmarks reveal the electronic and online gaming segment spearheaded total industry growth for the first time, surging to ₱201.12 billion and accounting for half of the total revenue and officially overtaking traditional land-based casino floors.

According to regulated digital platform Buenas PH, the industry milestone confirms a broader macroeconomic trend driven by key decisive policy and market shifts.

First, the decision by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to lower the GGR tax rate from 55% to 35% in 2024, followed by subsequent reductions to 30% for e-games, aligned local standards with global benchmarks, successfully drawing capital into regulated domestic channels.

Additionally, the nationwide total ban on offshore-facing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) removed significant market distortion, effectively redirecting investment into compliant, domestic digital operators. Furthermore, labor dynamics across the sector have undergone a structural realignment, shifting employment away from traditional floor-based hospitality toward high-skill digital operations, software management, and remote platform architecture.

“The industry’s growth signals a mature, structural evolution,” says Ellen Joy Almanza, Managing Consultant at Buenas PH. “It proves that a compliance-first, highly regulated digital gaming landscape creates sustainable, high-value tech and corporate career paths, moving the sector far beyond legacy assumptions of an informal or localized labor market.”

The economic footprint extends directly into the job market. Latest PSA survey data indicated that gambling and betting platforms have the highest wage premium within the broader Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation sector. Employing over 38,000 individuals, the segment recorded an average annual compensation of ₱688,750 per employee, significantly outpacing traditional creative, arts, and entertainment roles.

This structural transition directly supports broader national development goals outlined by regulatory authorities. In a statement on the sector’s digital transition, PAGCOR highlighted the demand for higher-skilled jobs in areas such as IT, cybersecurity, compliance, data analytics, finance, and customer support as the industry evolves, and its commitment to "build a sustainable gaming environment that generates quality jobs, attracts investments, contributes to nation-building, and operates responsibly.”

To sustain the momentum, Buenas PH emphasizes that the next phase of market maturity will require operators to transition from general digital operations toward specialized, front-line technical capabilities. As PAGCOR moves toward operating purely as a regulatory body, licensed domestic operators must absorb primary responsibility for real-time risk management and user protection.

“The next five years will be defined by scaling sophisticated, specialized capability,” adds Almanza. “Moving forward, operators must direct workforce investments into three critical pillars: embedding volume-scale Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance into operational roles, scaling predictive AI and data science to detect problematic gaming behaviors before they occur, and recruiting platform architects who can support novel digital formats like esports.”

Furthermore, navigating the rapid digital transition will require operators to fortify mid-level management and supervisory structures to ensure compliance stability during periods of high growth.

Aligning with PAGCOR’s mandatory player protection frameworks and self-exclusion mandates, digital platforms like Buenas PH continue to invest in local tech talent development and advanced compliance infrastructure, ensuring a secure, highly regulated, and sustainable digital ecosystem for Filipino consumers.

What Does the Future of Food Taste Like? Filipinos Get a Taste at Future Menus 2026 Food Trends Adventure

MANILA, Philippines – What does the future of food taste like? That’s what hundreds of guests got to explore for themselves at the Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Future Menus 2026 Food Trends Adventure last weekend. Held in partnership with GCash for Business, Future Menus transformed the Foro de Intramuros into the home base of a one-of-a-kind food crawl.

The event showcased the culinary ideas shaping how people eat today, and how they may be eating tomorrow. With GCash for Business helping make payments simple and convenient, guests could move seamlessly through the experience and focus on discovering the flavors and trends shaping the future of food.

From Trend Report to Tasting Menu

Future Menus is Unilever Food Solutions’ annual global food trends platform, developed based on extensive research and insights from chefs around the world. This year’s report spotlighted four key trends shaping the future of dining: the resurgence of heritage cuisine, the elevation of street food through more refined techniques, the growing influence of borderless cuisine, and the emergence of more personalized dining experiences.

“Every year, Future Menus brings together insights from chefs, industry experts, consumer behavior, and global food trends to identify the movements that will shape the future of dining. [...] what makes Future Menus truly valuable is [...] translating those insights into practical, profitable solutions that chefs and operators can bring to life in their kitchens immediately,” says Kat Huang, Country Marketing Head of Unilever Food Solutions.

Throughout the food crawl, guests discovered how these trends translated from concept to plate through dishes from 15 merchants, namely: Backyard BBQ, Bigby’s, Bun Run, Caerus, Chotto Matcha, Fiasfud, H Proper, Itamessy, Mezmars & Mau’s, OnlyPans, Poppy’s Halo Halo, Rebel Bakehouse, Sama Sama, Shawarma Ko, and Soriano’s.

Several dishes from the event that offered a glimpse of these trends included Sama Sama’s Filipino beef pares inside a tender bao – their interpretation of the Borderless Cuisine trend, where chefs borrow techniques and formats from around the world while staying true to the flavors of the dish itself.

Meanwhile, Soriano’s shone a light on a classic Filipino dish with its Beef Morcon, bringing back a traditional fiesta dish hardly found on menus today. It’s the kind of dish that captures the spirit of another trend, Culinary Roots, that celebrates ancestral recipes by making traditional Filipino flavors feel exciting and relevant for a new generation of diners.

For dessert, Poppy’s Halo Halo elevated two well-loved Filipino merienda classics – Halo Halo and Mais Con Yelo – without taking away their nostalgic charm but elevating them through craftsmanship, quality ingredients, and thoughtful presentation.

Together with the rest of the menus presented at the event, these dishes proved that the future of Filipino cuisine isn’t defined by a single look or style, but by the ways chefs and businesses continue to experiment with formats, reinterpret familiar flavours, and respond to consumer tastes.

Powering the Digital Future of Dining

Presented in partnership with GCash for Business, the event also marked the first-ever cashless Future Menus, offering a real-world look at how the dining experience is changing alongside the country’s shift toward digital payments. GCash for Business was selected as the event’s exclusive payment partner, powering the end-to-end payment experience from ticketing through transactions at participating merchant booths.

According to Kate Cruz, B2B Marketing Head of GCash, 60% of food and beverage transactions in the Philippines are already digital. One in five diners pay directly using an e-wallet like GCash, adding, “The shift in consumer behavior is already happening. The opportunity now is to make sure businesses are equipped to keep up.”


For GCash, that means looking beyond the consumer side of digital payments. Every digital buyer, after all, needs a digital seller – and with MSMEs accounting for 90% of businesses in the Philippines, more than 56% of these merchants remain digitally underserved.

“Merchants don’t fear technology; they fear friction,” Cruz said. “Empowering consumers was only half the equation, and now that paying with GCash has become part of Filipinos’ everyday routines, we saw that we needed to shift our attention to bridging the gap for the businesses they’re paying, too.”

At the Food Trends Adventure, GCash for Business had a dedicated booth where restaurants and food business owners could register and apply for their own SoundPay Plus device, a payment solution that accepts multiple payment methods and provides instant audio confirmation for successful transactions.

Across the food crawl experience, GCash for Business also launched a Scan-to-Order feature allowing guests to order and pay directly from where they were instead of waiting in line, further showing how digital tools are streamlining the dining journey and easing the experience for everyone.

As food businesses continue to evolve in response to changing tastes, formats, and consumer expectations, the digital infrastructure supporting them is evolving as well. Through GCash for Business, the Future Menus Food Trends Adventure showed that dining is not only about what ends up on a plate, but also how businesses and consumers connect around it.

The Future Menus 4 report is now available to download for free through the UFS website. To learn how food businesses can streamline operations, simplify payments, and focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences with GCash, visit GCash for Business.